A Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Samuel Oyetoro, has been killed by unknown persons in Ajaokuta, Kogi State.

Oyetoro, who was born in Egbe, Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State and hailed from Ayetoro in Ijumu Local Government Area, was, until his death, serving at St. Paul’s Parish, Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu LGA.

According to available information, the priest was reportedly attacked with a machete, and his body was later found by the roadside in Ajaokuta.

Confirming the incident on Friday, the Kogi State Police Command said the killing occurred on July 29, 2026.

The command’s spokesperson, ASP Oyiza Afusat, said, “The incident is confirmed. On 29th July 2026, at about 9:30 a.m., the police received information that the lifeless body of an unidentified male was found by the roadside along Church Road, Ajaokuta.

“Operatives promptly mobilised to the scene, where it was observed that the deceased had sustained severe machete cuts to the head. The body was evacuated to the ASCL Hospital, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor, and was thereafter deposited at the mortuary for autopsy.

“The deceased was later identified as Rev. Fr. Samuel Opeyemi of St. Paul Parish, Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu LGA, Kogi State.

“The case is currently under investigation, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend those responsible. Upon the conclusion of preliminary investigation, the case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for discreet investigation.

“We will provide further updates as the investigation progresses.”

The killing has thrown the Catholic community and many residents of Kogi State into mourning.

Kogi governor orders probe

Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has directed security agencies to carry out a thorough investigation into the killing of Rev. Fr Samuel Opeyemi, a Catholic priest of St Paul Parish, Ayetoro Gbede, and ensure those responsible are brought to justice.

Rev. Fr Opeyemi was reportedly hacked to death by yet-to-be-identified attackers, who later abandoned his body by the roadside in Ajaokuta Local Government Area of the state.

The directive was announced in a statement issued on Friday by the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, who described the killing as a heinous and unacceptable act.

According to the statement, the governor has instructed all security agencies to leave no stone unturned in identifying those behind the murder.

“Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has directed all security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident, identify everyone connected with the crime and ensure they face the full weight of the law,” the statement said.

The state government expressed deep sadness over the death of the priest and extended its condolences to the Catholic Church, the diocese, the family of the deceased and the Christian community.

The government assured residents that those responsible would not escape justice.

“The murder of Rev. Fr Samuel Opeyemi is a painful tragedy that has saddened the Government and the people of Kogi State. We condemn this barbaric act in the strongest possible terms and assure the Church and the family of the deceased that the perpetrators will not escape justice,” the statement added.

The government also called on security agencies to carry out a professional and comprehensive investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the killing and prosecute everyone involved.

It expressed confidence in the ability of security operatives to uncover those behind the crime.

The Provost of the College of Medicine, Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Professor Uchenna Ekwochi, has said Governor Peter Mbah’s Smart Green School initiative is laying the foundation for a generation of globally competitive children through quality, technology-driven education.

Professor Ekwochi made the remark, Thursday, during the Cultural Day celebration at the Enugu Smart Green School, Umueze Awkunanaw, in Nkanu West Local Government Area, where he commended the Enugu State Government for its bold investment in educational transformation.

Describing the Smart Green School initiative as a visionary intervention, the renowned paediatrician said the facilities provide pupils with the knowledge, digital skills and experiential learning needed to compete successfully with their peers anywhere in the world.

He noted that he attended the event not only to celebrate with the pupils but also to inspire them, reminding the children that every successful professional was once a young learner with dreams and aspirations.

Professor Ekwochi, who celebrated his birthday alongside his son, Gideon Ekwochi, with the pupils, thanked the state government for bringing the world-class educational facility to the community.

The Provost also praised the siting of a Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centre beside the school, describing it as a strategic intervention that would improve access to quality healthcare, strengthen primary healthcare delivery and enhance the well-being of residents.

According to him, communities across Enugu State no longer have to lobby for government projects, noting that the equitable distribution of development projects reflects Governor Mbah’s commitment to inclusive governance and balanced development.

He urged members of the community to take ownership of the Smart Green School by protecting its facilities from vandalism, stressing that public participation is essential to sustaining government’s investment in education.

As part of efforts to promote academic excellence, Professor Ekwochi, who fully sponsored the school’s Cultural Day celebration, announced a cash award of ₦100,000 for the overall best graduating Primary Six pupil progressing to Junior Secondary School.

Also speaking, the Igwe-elect of Umueze Awkunanaw, Dr. Emeka Ani, thanked the governor for bringing the Smart Green School to the community, describing it as a landmark investment in the future of children.

He assured that the community would safeguard the facility and commended Professor Ekwochi for his longstanding contributions to education, scholarships and community development.

Similarly, a stakeholder from the community, Surveyor Geoffrey Agbo described the Smart Green School as a transformative project that would expose children to modern digital learning and prepare them for future technological challenges.

He urged residents to protect the facility while describing it as a collective asset for present and future generations.

Earlier, the Head Teacher of the school, Mrs. Ngene Nwabueze, expressed appreciation to provost for sponsoring the successful Cultural Day celebration.

She also praised Governor Mbah for delivering a state-of-the-art Smart Green School equipped with 25 modern classrooms, solar-powered electricity, potable water, smart boards, computers, science laboratories, digital library, campus-wide internet connectivity and other experiential learning facilities, adding that the initiative has set a new benchmark for basic education in the state and beyond.

Governor Peter Mbah has approved the recruitment of over 6,500 qualified candidates into various academic, technical, and administrative positions in public primary and secondary schools in Enugu State, particularly the 267 Smart Green Schools.

The government, in a statement by the Executive Chairman of the Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB), Prof. Hyginus Okibe Banko, said the basic qualifications for the various positions include a Bachelor’s Degree in Education; or a Bachelor’s Degree/HND in a relevant discipline in addition to a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE); or a Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) in the specified subject areas. Registration or proof of ongoing registration with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) is mandatory.

The statement added that there are also vacancies for OND and SSCE/WASSCE holders in relevant positions.

All candidates applying for Degree/HND positions must possess a valid NYSC discharge or exemption certificate and demonstrate practical proficiency in information and communication technology (ICT) tools across all cadres.

Interested applicants are to submit a formal application letter, accompanied by a detailed curriculum vitae (CV), copies of academic and professional credentials, a birth certificate or sworn declaration of age, and valid contact details.

Hard copy applications should be submitted directly to the Office of the Executive Chairman, Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB), Enugu State.

For electronic submissions, all application documents should be compiled into a single PDF file and sent directly to ENSUBEB’s official email address: ensubebofficial@outlook.com. The deadline for the submission of applications is Friday, August 14, 2026.